DeKALB – It's been awhile.
Yes, it's been more than two decades since the Northern Illinois women's basketball team has made the postseason, but it's been a long time since Huskies coach Lisa Carlsen faced off against South Dakota State coach Aaron Johnston in the Division II ranks.
When the Huskies play against the Jackrabbits in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday, Carlsen and Johnston will coach against each other for the first time since 2004.
"He's built quite a program there," Carlsen said about Johnston, who is in his 17th year with South Dakota State and faced Carlsen's Nebraska-Omaha team eight times in four seasons.